Biochemistry of Living Organisms

The Chemistry of Living Things

• This presentation covers the chemistry of living organisms, specifically focusing on biochemistry.
• Objectives include relating water's properties to its biological importance, defining organic compounds, distinguishing them from other compounds, comparing carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Biochemistry Objectives

• Relate the unique properties of water to its vital role in living organisms.
• Define organic compounds.
• Differentiate organic compounds from other types of chemical compounds.
• Compare and contrast carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in terms of structure and function.

Essential Question

• Why can humans survive longer without food than without water?

Water Properties

• Water's cohesive and adhesive properties are crucial for life processes.
• Cohesion: Water molecules' attraction to each other.
• Adhesion: Water molecules' attraction to other substances.
• Polarity of water molecules influences its unique properties which are vital to all living things.
• Ice floats because its solid form (ice) is less dense than its liquid form (water).

Organic Compounds

• Organic compounds are covalently bonded compounds, containing the element carbon.
• Examples of organic compounds include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids; these are vital biomolecules found in all living things.

Biomolecules

• Many essential components in nutrition labels are biomolecules, the molecules that form living things.
• Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are major biomolecule types.

Carbohydrates

• Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
• Function: Provide energy
• Examples: Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, Starch
• Food Sources: Breads, Fruits, Starch, Sugar, Vegetables.

Lipids

• Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
• Function: Store energy
• Examples: Fats, Oils
• Food Sources: Butter, Nuts, Oil.

Proteins

• Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen
• Function: Build muscles, hair, blood, skin
• Examples: Enzymes, Hemoglobin
• Food Sources: Beans, Eggs, Meat, Poultry, Seafood.

Nucleotides

• Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus
• Function: Contain genetic information
• Examples: DNA, RNA

Further Questions

• What similarities exist between various biomolecules?
• What occurs if the structure or shape of a biomolecule changes?
• What does this reveal about how living organisms are created?